clark



(No Model.)

J.. K. CLARK. LATCH.

' Patented 001;. 1'7, 1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EErcE.

JOHN, K. CLARK, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO MARY K. CLARK, OF SAME PLACE.

LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 506,978, dated October 17, 1893.

Application filed May 19,1893.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN K. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Latch -Locks and Handles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its objects to provide a novel, simple, efficient, and desirable rim latch-lock and handle, particularly designed for refrigerator doors, but useful for other purposes; and to provide a new and improved construction whereby an independent arched handle holds and spans the latch- Iock case, and lies over the latch-operating lever or finger-piece thereof for co-operating with the latter in raising the latch.

To accomplish these objects my invention consists in the combination of a slotted latchcase having a movable latch and flanged ends, a latch-operating lever or finger-piece projecting through the slot in the latch-case, and an independent arched or curved handle spanning the latch-case over the latch-operating lever or finger piece, and having its end portions engaged with the flanged ends of the latch-case.

The invention also consists in certain other features of construction and combinations or arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the latchlock case and the handle arranged in operatlve connection with each other. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the latch-lock case. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the handle; and Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of the latch-lock case to illustrate the preferred internal arrangement.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, wherein-- The numeral 1 indicates the case of the latch-lock having its front wall provided with a slot 2 near one corner of its top portion. The latch 3 is pivotally mounted in the case, and is raised through the medium of a latch operating lever or finger-piece 4, pivoted to Serial No. 474,788. (No model.)

cars 5 on the front wall of the case, and having a tail-piece projecting through the slot 2 into the case to bear upon the upper side of the latch at a point in rear of its pivot 6 in such manner that when the outer end of the lever or finger-piece is moved to depress the inner end or tail piece, the latch will be raised from engagement with its keeper, which latter may be of any desired construction, and is not herein illustrated.

The latch is adapted to be looked through the medium of a key and locking devices, which, however, do not constitute any essential part of the present invention, and therefore it is deemed unnecessary to describe the same in detail. The arrangement described is designed to raise the latch when the outer end portion of the latch-operating lever or finger-piece 4 is lifted or moved upward, but I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to this particular arrangement, although it is the preferred one; for, obviously, the latch-operating lever or finger piece can be so arranged as to otherwise acton the latch 3 for raising the same out of engagement with its keeper.

The upper and lower end portions of the latch-lock case are each provided with projecting flanges 7 and 8, the former having a screw hole 9 for the passage of a screw which passes through one of the end plates 10 of an arched or curved handle-bar 12, hereinafter explained. The end plates 10 are each preferably formed in the shape of a segment of a circle, and are designed to be ornamented with any desired designs or ornamentation, and the inner side of each plate 10 is formed with a recess to provide a cavity 13 designed to receive the flanges 7 and 8, so that the lock case and the end plates 10 can lie flush with each other against a refrigerator, or any other door. The cavity 13 extends horizontally across the bases of the plates 10, and each recessed part is preferably provided with two screw holes 14:, through which pass wood 9 screws 15 and 16, for rigidly securing the arched or curved handle and the lock case in operative connection with each other. The screws 15 pass through the screw holes 9 in the flanges 7, and therefore the latch-lock case is firmly held by the same screws that serve to attach the handle-rod, which is a very desirable feature as regards economy and simplicity. The inside of the recessed parts of the plates are preferably formed integral with lugs 17, adapted to bear against the edges of the flanges 7, so that when the handle and the latch-lock case are placed to gether, and the lugs 17 bear against the flanges 7, the screw holes of said flanges will accurately register with the screw holes in the plates 10 through which the screws pass. This is a very desirable feature, in that it enables the handle and the latch-lock case to be quickly assembled in correct position for rapid attachment.

The arched or curved handle 12 spans the latch-lock case, and vertically lies over the latch-operating lever or finger-piece, sothat the latter is arranged directly under the handle, and when the latter is grasped a finger of the hand can be conveniently placed upon the latch-operating lever for moving the same to raise the latch. By this means the handle and the leveror finger piece are in such juxtaposition, or operative connection, that by grasping the handle the latch can be instantly raised and the door pulled open. In addition to this, the ends of the handle impart an ornamental appearance to the structure, and serve to securely hold the latch-lock case in position on the door.

The construction and arrangement described provide a very convenient, strong, and durable fixture for refrigerator and other doors, whereby the latch can be conveniently operated; and, further, the construction of the handle enables it to be economically man nfactured, while it is susceptible of being highly ornamented, and aifords a firm grip for the hand. By making the handle a separate part it is possible to cast it in any de sired forlnwith the ornamental parts; whereas it would be very difiicult to mold these ornamentations directlyon the endsof thelatchlock case.

The design of the handle may be variously modified, which is a very desirable feature from a commercial standpoint, since the ornalnentation can be largely varied to suit the taste of the user.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination of a slotted latch-case, having a movable latch and flanged ends, a latch-operating lever or finger piece projecting through the slot in the latch-case, and an independent arched or curved handle spanning the latch case over the latch-operating lever or finger piece, and having its end portions engaged with the flanged ends of the latch case, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a slotted latch-case, having a pivoted latch and end flanges, provided with screw holes, a pivoted latch-operating lever or finger piece projecting through the slot in the latch case, and an independent arch or curved handle spanning the latch ease, and provided with recessed end tions engaging the flanged ends of the latch case, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J Ol-IN K. CLARK.

Witnesses:

MARY K. CLARK, GEORGE L. HERGER.

por-. 

